Magnetic taggant system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method for monitoring a ratio of at least two components being mixed uses sensors detecting ferrous taggant particles in the component(s) and the mixture. The sensors include an annular drive coil positioned between inner and outer annular sense coils all surrounding a passage for material being sensed. The ratio is determined by comparing a signal generated by one sensor through which a taggant particle containing component is flowing with a signal generated by another sensor through which the mixture is flowing delayed by the time required for the component to flow from the one sensor to the another sensor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/457,772 filed Mar. 26, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for detecting taggants and, in particular, to a system for monitoring the ratio of mixtures formed from two or more parts.

Two-part adhesives, mixed at the time of use, are well known and are used throughout many industries to bond components together. Such adhesives exhibit a faster dry time, longer shelf life, and stronger adhesive characteristics than typical one part adhesives. One requirement of two-part adhesives is to keep the mixture of the parts at the correct ratio to obtain a reaction that will correctly form the adhesive. It often is difficult to monitor the mixing ratio in a production setting where the adhesive parts are being mixed and dispensed as needed on a manufacturing line.

A system and a method for monitoring the proportional volume of constituents provided to an adhesive mixture are shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,151. Ferromagnetic tagging material particles are suspended in one of the two constituent parts used in the mixture. A first tagging material sensor is utilized to monitor the flow of the tagged part to the mixing area and a second tagging material sensor is utilized to monitor the mixed parts as they flow to a dispenser nozzle. A monitor calculates the volumetric ratio of the two constituents based upon the concentration of the tagging material and a warning is given when the calculated ratio exceeds predetermined limits. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention is discussed in terms of a two component mixture, this system can be used with more than two component mixtures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a ferrous magnetic taggant system for monitoring a ratio of at least two components being combined in a mixture. The system comprises: a first sensor for generating a first sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a first component flowing adjacent the first sensor; a second sensor for generating a second sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a mixture of the first component and a ferrous taggant particle free second component flowing adjacent the second sensor; and a control means responsive to the first and second sense signals for calculating a ratio of the volumes of the first and second components in the mixture. The first and second sensors have a generally tubular body with a central passage through which material flows, an inner sense coil extending about a circumference of the passage, a drive coil extending about a circumference of the inner sense coil, and an outer sense coil extending about a circumference of the drive coil. The inner and outer sense coils each generate a coil signal in response to the presence of the ferrous taggant particles. The system includes an instrumentation amplifier connected to the inner and outer sense coils for generating a sense signal representing a difference between the coil signals, the sense signal being one of the first and second sense signals. The control means is connected to an information processing device and generates an output signal representing the ratio of the volumes to the information processing device.

The system includes a master for calibrating the first and second sensors, which each have a passage through which material flows. The master has a body with a smaller diameter end sized to fit into the passages and a larger diameter end sized for use as a handle. The body further having a core formed from a filler material and a predetermined percentage of the ferrous taggant particles.

The present invention also relates to a method of monitoring a volume ratio of at least two components mixed together comprising the steps of: providing a first sensor for generating a first sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a first component flowing into a mixing device; providing a second sensor generating a second sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a mixture of the first component and a ferrous taggant particle free second component flowing in the mixing device; and providing control means for calculating a ratio of the volumes of the first and second components in the mixture. The method further includes a step of operating the control means to compare a value of the first sense signal with a value of the second sense generated after a predetermined delay representing a time required for a portion of the first component to travel from the first sensor to the second sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a magnetic taggant system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is cross sectional view of a sensor used in the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a circuit schematic for the sensor shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a wave form diagram of the sampling of the current signal generated by the circuit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is the wave form of FIG. 4 with the DC offset removed;

FIG. 6 is a circuit schematic of the drive amplifier shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a master for the system shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention concerns a system for monitoring the mixing of two or more constituents to form a mixture in a desired ratio of the components. Although a two-part adhesive, a component “A” and a component “B”, is used as an example in the following description of the invention, other mixtures of three or more components that either normally include or can have added thereto a metallic component that affects a magnetic field can be used with the system according to the present invention. A system 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 as monitoring a two component mixing and dispensing apparatus 11. The apparatus 11 includes a component “A” source 12 through which flows the component “A” in the direction of an arrow 13. The apparatus 11 also includes a component “B” source 14 through which flows the component “B” in the direction of an arrow 15. The sources 12 and 14 are connected to a mixing tube 16 wherein the two components mix and through which the mixture flows in a direction of an arrow 17 to a dispensing nozzle 18. Although not shown, a conventional mixing element is positioned inside the mixing tube 16.

The system 10 includes a control means such as an electronic instrument 20 connected to two sensors referred to as sensor “A” 21 and sensor “B” 22. The sensor “B” 22 is mounted in such a manner that the component “B”, carrying a constant known amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume, flows through the center of the sensor “B” 22. Thus, the sensor “B” 22 determines that a desired amount of taggant particles is flowing. The component “A” has no ferrous particles. When the two components are mixed in the mixing tube 16, the mixture of “A”+“B” results and flows through the center of the sensor “A” 21 to the dispenser nozzle 18. The instrument 20 can be connected to one or more information processing devices such as a personal computer PC 19, a programmable logic controller PLC 23 and a diagnostic display 24. These devices provide information as to the operation of the apparatus 11 and can use the information generated by the instrument 20 in a feedback control system to automatically adjust the flow of the “A” and “B” components from the sources 12 and 14 respectively.

The passage of the ferrous taggant particles is detected by the sensors 21 and 22 which each send a sensor signal to the electronic instrument 20. After demodulation of the sensor signal from the coil “B”, a linear output signal proportional to the amount of ferrous taggant particles is generated by the electronic instrument 20. A delay representing the time required for the portion of the component “B” previously measured with the sensor “B” 22 to move within the sensor “A” 21 is required. This delay allows the taggant component “B” to mix with the non-taggant component “A” and move within the sensor “A” 21. This will assure testing of the adhesive before and after it is mixed. The change in electrical response has been determined to be linear with respect to amount of taggant. This simplifies the ratio equations. Using a deviation from a desired ratio will further eliminate errors due to different mixtures of the component “B”. If for instance the mixture has been reduced by ten percent, the readings of both the sensor “A” 21 and the sensor “B” 22 will be reduced proportionally. Thus, the mixture will still have the correct ratio. The absolute reading of the sensor “B” 22 also is monitored to assure the mixture is held within a certain percent.

EQUATIONS:

EQUATION OF THE LINE−% TAGGANT=M×X+B

M is the slope of a line. This is adjusted with each system.

X is the amplitude of the sine wave response from the A/D converter. This could also be the phase.

B is the offset. This is effected by the external environment. This effect is cancelled when the coil is positioned on a production system.

R=% A/% B

RATIO (DEVIATION FROM NOMINAL)=100(((R/(R−1)0.5)−1)

The constant “0.5” is dependent on the desired mix ratio. A “0.5” constant indicates two parts of the component “A” for every one part of the taggant “B”. The above formula is specific to a 2:1 mixture and would be varied according to the mixture ratio be measured.

One method for making the small taggant particles is available from 3M, St. Paul, Minn. Small plastic balls 40 (FIG. 2) are plated with a ferrous material. This plating is noticed by an alternating magnetic field. Two effects occur: 1) the flux lines of the magnetic field are altered proportionally to the amount of the balls 40; and 2) small eddy currents are created within each ball 40 wherein these eddy currents oppose the initial magnetic field and effect the return response of the sense windings of the sensors 21, 22.

The sensors “A” 21 and “B” 22 are made as similar as possible to cancel out variations due to the environment. By mathematically ratioing the effect to the magnetic field, the two coils cancel many common environment changes.

The present technology uses the small plated balls 40. Other taggant material may be possible. Any material affecting the magnetic field has the potential to be used.

There is shown in FIG. 2 a sensor 26 that is suitable for use as the sensors 21 and 22. The sensor 26 is tubular in cross section with a hollow interior passage 26 a through which the material carrying the balls 40 flows. Extending about a circumference of the interior passage 26 a is an inner sense coil 27. Extending about a circumference of the inner sense coil 27 is a drive coil 32. Extending about a circumference of the drive coil 32 is an outer sense coil 28.

The drive coil 32 creates an AC magnetic field. The two sense windings 27 and 28 are designed so signals from the inner sense coil 27 cancel signals from the outer sense coil 28 when only air is present in the passage 26 a. When material enters the passage 26 a, the inner sense coil 27 receives a larger signal than the outer sense coil 28. The difference between the signals is detectable through electronics. The effect of the plated balls 40 is proportional to the amount of the balls within the sensor 26. The material used to hold the three windings 27, 28, 32 in place can be one of Delrin, ceramic, nonmagnetic stainless, and titanium. Typically, three bobbins are made, one for each coil, and tightly fit together.

As an alternative, the sensor windings 27 and 28 can be replaced by other types of sensors such as Hall Effect devices.

The electronic circuit connected to the sensor coil 26 is shown in FIG. 3. A microprocessor controlled AC sine wave oscillator 25 generates a sine wave signal to a current drive amplifier 33 connected to the drive coil 32. The microprocessor can be a separate unit (not shown) or can be a microprocessor in one of the information processing devices 19, 23, 24. The oscillator also provides synchronized square wave signals of frequencies “f” and “nf”. The current drive 26 will ensure constant current on the drive side. Changes due to the taggant 40 will occur on the sense side. The two sense windings 27 and 28 are situated in such a manner that in air there is no signal. When the metallic particles 40 are positioned inside of the coil 26, the inner sense coil 27 is more affected then the outer sense coil 28. The coils 27, 28 are connected to inputs of an instrumentation amplifier 29 that measures the difference between the two sense winding signals. A difference signal generated by the amplifier 29 is filtered by a filter 30, AC coupled and directed to an analog to digital converter 31. The signal from the oscillator 25 having the frequency “nf”, typically four times a frequency of the signal “f”, is applied to the converter 31.

Similar circuitry 34 is provided for a current signal from the oscillator 33. The current should be very stable. However, even small changes in the current due to power supply variation can cause variation in the return information. These effects are cancelled by normalizing the sense signal from the filter 30 with a return. The “f” frequency signal which is synchronized at four times the sine wave frequency will provide the A/D conversion start pulses. Sampling is every 90 degrees to obtain four points for each sine wave as shown in FIG. 4 as points “p1” through “p4”. Two A/D conversions, one for a current signal “Isin” and one for the sense signal “SENSE”, sample at precisely the same time. The four points are used to remove any DC information and accurately calculate the amplitude and the phase of the “Isin” signal and the sense sine waves. The sense signal is divided by the current “Isin”. This compensates for any deviation due to the power supply. This normalized amplitude and phase result in an electronic number proportional to the percent of taggant 40 (metallic particles) in the coil 26. It has been found that the percent of taggant 40 inside the coil 26 varies linearly. Now, the percent taggant can be calculated based on an absolute reading. The amount of taggant used and called 100% was empirically determined. This provided the starting point. To obtain a 50% mixture, 50% of the ferrous particles are mixed. Any percentage can be mixed and predicted. However the less the taggant the smaller the electronic signal.

Although four points per sine wave are shown in FIG. 4, the number of sampling points can be increased for additional harmonic information. Furthermore, other techniques such as quadrature demodulation could be used. Also, the phase of the signal can be used instead of the amplitude.

Extreme care is involved to keep the integrity of the sense signal. This includes the coils 27, 28 being designed differentially. They only return signals that are information. They are zeroed in air. They return signals proportional to the amount of the taggant filler 40. The two sensor coils “A” and “B” 21, 22 are designed physically the same. The two sensor coils 21, 22 are positioned as close as possible to each other so they both encounter the same changes in environment without being effected by the magnetic field of the other coil.

Two twisted pair of wires route the signal from the drive and from the difference of the two senses. Each twisted pair has its own shield. The two wires will see the same external events such as noise coupling etc. These two wires are fed into the instrument amplifier 29 subtracting the outer sense from the inner sense and eliminating any common mode noise. The electronics are mounted on a board with a printed circuit that routs the signals differentially. Special ground plane and shielding is used.

Special care is taken to remove electrical noise. Analog filters remove a considerable amount of noise. A notch filter is designed to remove the 60 Hz noise. High pass and low pass filters remove the aliasing type noises and unwanted frequency noise. Software filters further remove noise which has been picked up on the circuit board or at the last stage before the A/D conversion. These filters are optimized for a particular frequency.

A special 60 Hz filter algorithm has been developed to remove all 60 Hz noise. By selecting a frequency multiple of 60 Hz, it is possible to completely remove any 60 Hz related noise. 120 Hz noise is a common problem when considering high gain circuits. First, select a frequency at “n” times the test frequency. Example: 16×60=960. Gather four points (90 degrees apart) for 16 sine waves. Note these 16 sine waves correspond to 60 Hz since the frequency was defined as 16×60=960 Hz. Subtract the first point from the third point and the second point from the fourth for each of the sixteen 960 Hz sine waves. Now there are two points for each sine wave. This has removed all of the DC and there are sixteen pairs of points. By averaging the first of these points and then averaging the second for each of the sixteen 960 Hz sine waves, the 60 Hz noise is removed. Also improved is the variance by 1/sqrt(n) by averaging. Now the two points can be converted to the amplitude and phase of the signal. Using the above techniques, the DC offset is removed from each sine wave. Averaging sixteen waveforms has the effect of reducing the variance due to random noise by 1/sqrt(16). Because the frequency was chosen to be a multiple of 60 Hz, also removed is the effect of both 60 Hz and 120 Hz. In Europe, a multiple of 50 Hz will be chosen.

The waveform of sixteen sine waves shown in FIG. 5 has the DC offset removed and includes both 60 Hz and 60×16=960 Hz. As previously explained, four points are sampled for each 960 Hz waveform. Then the first, second, third and fourth points are averaged. This averaging will remove the 60 Hz, and the 120 Hz, the 240 Hz . . . . until Nyquest sampling theory of less than two samples/cycle is reached. At this point other filters are removing the noise.

Automatic determination of offset: In the past the procedure would be to remove offsets caused by change in environments by manually adjusting the offset. In the system according to the present invention, the operator turns off the component “A” supply and the same material will flow through both coils 21, 22. The percent taggant should read the same for both coils. A simple calibrate offset button will remove any of the offsets. No adjustments by the operator are required.

Spacial and volumetric filter: In the past filters were all related to the frequency. The frequency has no meaning to the operator. This new algorithm will set up the filters based on the acceptable missing adhesive. For example, if one inch of missing adhesive is acceptable then a spatial filter will determine software and hardware filtering. If the operator wishes to monitor the volume flow, a volumetric filter will relate the flow rate to the frequency sampling rate etc. No knowledge of sampling theories etc. will be required.

The sampling will be related to volume flow of material or the rate of dispensing; ultimately to how much missing adhesive is allowable.

Monitoring absolute coil reading: Special algorithms will study multiple frequencies and use these frequencies to eliminate the effect of temperature. This may require fft's and regression equations to ignore temperature variation.

By monitoring the voltage on the output of the amplifier 33, see FIG. 6, it can be determined if clipping is being approached. Harmonic analysis can be used to determine if clipping is beginning. This can be used to detect changes in a malfunctioning drive.

By adding analog switches, the sense windings can be turned on and off. These switches can be added to apply voltages to the sense windings and detect changes in coil windings, broken wires and missing cables. These voltages will be used to determine if the secondary coils are correctly working.

When switching on/off the drive, extreme transients can occur, resulting in wasted time before accurate data can be taken. In the past, the turn on/off circuitry was synchronized with the oscillator frequency. The actual energy causing transients occur at non-related times based on delays in circuitry, coil resistance, capacitance and inductance. A programmable delay will switch the power on or off at the minimum transient time. This will be determined by analyses of the transients (fft's, wavelets). Removing the delay optimizes the data gathering. As shown in FIG. 3, a “D” flip flop 35 is clocked by the “f” frequency signal from the oscillator 25.

In the past, complicated masters were made using two ferrite adjustable cores. They required very stable ceramic material which was very breakable. It was sensitive with the absolute position. With the above design, the passage 26 a can be filled with a master made with material similar to that used for the adhesive. In FIG. 7, there is shown a master 36 having a body with a larger diameter end 37 and a smaller diameter end 38. A core 39 extends from end to end along a longitudinal axis of the body of the master 36. The body of the master 36 can be made from a suitable material such as Delrin. The core 39 is formed of a predetermined percentage of the taggant material 40 and a filler material.

The smaller diameter portion 38 is sized to fit into the passage 26 a of the sensor 26 being used as the sensor 22 for the component “B” material. The larger diameter portion 37 can be used as a handle and the smaller diameter portion 38 is inserted up to the adjacent end of the larger diameter portion 37 which functions as a stop. The larger diameter portion 37 is sized to fit into the passage 26 a of the sensor 26 being used as the sensor 21 for the mixture. The smaller diameter portion 38 can be used as a handle and the larger diameter portion 37 is inserted up to the adjacent end of the smaller diameter portion 38 which functions as an indicator. Typically, the diameters of the passages 26 a are sized proportionally to the percentage of the component “B” in the mixture.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. 

1. A ferrous magnetic taggant system for monitoring a ratio of at least two components being combined in a mixture, comprising: a first sensor for generating a first sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a first component flowing adjacent said first sensor; a second sensor for generating a second sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a mixture of the first component and a ferrous taggant particle free second component flowing adjacent said second sensor; a control means responsive to said first and second sense signals for calculating a ratio of the volumes of the first and second components in the mixture, and wherein at least one of said first and second sensors has a generally tubular body with a central passage through which material flows, an inner sense coil extending about a circumference of said passage, a drive coil extending about a circumference of said inner sense coil, and an outer sense coil extending about a circumference of said drive coil; and a master for calibrating said first and second sensors, said first and second sensors each having a passage through which material flows, said master having a body with a smaller diameter end sized to fit into said passages and a larger diameter end sized for use as a handle, said body further having a core formed from a filler material and a predetermined percentage of the ferrous taggant particles.
 2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said inner and outer sense coils each generate a coil signal in response to the presence of the ferrous taggant particles and including an instrumentation amplifier connected to said inner and outer sense coils for generating a sense signal representing a difference between said coil signals, said sense signal being one of said first and second sense signals.
 3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said inner and outer sense coils are formed to generate mutually canceling coil signals when said passage is filled with air.
 4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said control means compares a value of said first sense signal with a value of said second sense generated after a predetermined delay representing a time required for a portion of the first component to travel from said first sensor to said second sensor.
 5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes a constant current drive means generating current to a drive coil in at least one of said first and second sensors.
 6. The system according to claim 1 wherein said control means is connected to an information processing device and generates an output signal representing the ratio of the volumes to said information processing device.
 7. The system according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes an A/D converter for converting said first and second sense signals.
 8. The system according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes a filter that generates a sine wave test signal with a frequency of “n” times a frequency of said first and second sense signals, said filter gathering four points ninety degrees apart for each of “n” cycles of the test signal, said filter subtracting a first one of the points from a third one of the points and subtracting a second one of the points from a fourth one of the points to obtain a pair of points for each of the cycles, and said filter averaging a first one of all of said pairs of points and averaging a second one of all of said pairs of points to obtain first and second averages respectively, said first and second averages representing an amplitude and phase of said first and second sense signals.
 9. A method of monitoring a volume ratio of at least two components mixed together comprising the steps of: a) providing a first sensor for generating a first sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a first component flowing into a mixing device; b) providing a second sensor generating a second sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a mixture of the first component and a ferrous taggant particle free second component flowing in the mixing device, and wherein at least one of the first and second sensors has a generally tubular body with a central passage through which material flows, an inner sense coil extending about a circumference of the passage, a drive coil extending about a circumference of the inner sense coil, and an outer sense coil extending about a circumference of the drive coil; c) providing control means for calculating a ratio of the volumes of the first and second components in the mixture; d) generating a sine wave test signal with a frequency of “n” times a frequency of the first and second sense signals; e) gathering four points ninety degrees apart for each of “n” cycles of the test signal; f) subtracting a first one of the points from a third one of the points and subtracting a second one of the points from a fourth one of the points to obtain a pair of points for each of the cycles; and g) averaging a first one of all of the pairs of points and averaging a second one of all of the pairs of points to obtain first and second averages respectively, the first and second averages representing an amplitude and phase of the first and second sense signals.
 10. The method of monitoring according to claim 9 including a step of operating said control means to compare a value of the first sense signal with a value of the second sense generated after a predetermined delay representing a time required for a portion of the first component to travel from the first sensor to the second sensor.
 11. The method of monitoring according to claim 9 including a step of providing a master for calibrating the first and second sensors, the first and second sensors each having a passage through which material flows, the master having a body with a smaller diameter end sized to fit into the passages and a larger diameter end sized for use as a handle, the body further having a core formed from a filler material and a predetermined percentage of the ferrous taggant particles, and inserting the smaller diameter end into the passage of one of the first and second sensors.
 12. A ferrous magnetic taggant system for monitoring a ratio of at least two components being combined in a mixture, comprising: a first sensor for generating a first sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a first component flowing adjacent said first sensor; a second sensor for generating a second sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a mixture of the first component and a ferrous taggant particle free second component flowing adjacent said second sensor; and a control means responsive to said first and second sense signals for calculating a ratio of the volumes of the first and second components in the mixture, wherein said control means includes a filter that generates a sine wave test signal with a frequency of “n” times a frequency of said first and second sense signals, said filter gathering four points ninety degrees apart for each of “n” cycles of the test signal, said filter subtracting a first one of the points from a third one of the points and subtracting a second one of the points from a fourth one of the points to obtain a pair of points for each of the cycles, and said filter averaging a first one of all of said pairs of points and averaging a second one of all of said pairs of points to obtain first and second averages respectively, said first and second averages representing an amplitude and phase of said first and second sense signals.
 13. A method of monitoring a volume ratio of at least two components mixed together comprising the steps of: a) providing a first sensor for generating a first sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a first component flowing into a mixing device; b) providing a second sensor generating a second sense signal representing an amount of ferrous taggant particles per unit volume of a mixture of the fist component and a ferrous taggant particle free second component flowing in the mixing device, and wherein at least one of the first and second sensors has a generally tubular body with a central passage through which material flows, an inner sense coil extending about a circumference of the passage, a drive coil extending about a circumference of the inner sense coil, and an outer sense coil extending about a circumference of the drive coil; c) providing control means for calculating a ratio of the volumes of the first and second components in the mixture; d) providing a master for calibrating the first and second sensors, the first and second sensors each having a passage through which material flows, the master having a body with a smaller diameter end sized to fit into the passages and a larger diameter end sized for use as a handle, the body further having a core formed from a filler material and a predetermined percentage of the ferrous taggant particles; and e) inserting the smaller diameter end into the passage of one of the first and second sensors. 